""""
After a whole lot of useless babbling, in the end, she didn't mention her brawling mishaps, just writing a single sentence telling him not to come back, and that without becoming a top scholar, all the silver he spent on studying and grinding his ink was wasted.
The Madame didn't even bother getting angry anymore, and scolded, "Over these years, the silver Xingze spent on his studies hasn't matched up to what we've had to pay for compensation whenever he got into fights and trouble."
Madam Wang laughed, "Will you write another letter in reply? And send it to the young master together?"
"No need to write again. Within a month, he will definitely come back. He wouldn't care about someone else's coming-of-age ceremony, but he wouldn't miss Xiaoqi's for the world," said the Madame, her expression turning sour as she thought about something, "I will send a letter to the Duke Residence right away, to ask whether the marriage agreement still stands or not. Our Yuewan is about to have her coming-of-age ceremony, if it's still valid, we'll proceed according to the agreement; if not..."
She didn't finish her sentence.
Yet Madam Wang understood the rest of the Madame's unspoken words and sighed internally, "Shall I send both letters out together?"
The Madame nodded, stood up, and carefully started writing a letter to the Old Duke of Protectorate at the Duke Residence, sealed it with wax, and asked Madam Wang, "For sending this letter to Capital City, given the matter's importance, we shouldn't use the post service. Isn't it better to send someone dependable in person? Who do you suggest we send?"
Madam Wang thought for a while, "How about sending Li Yan, the son of our housekeeper Li? That boy is reliable and meticulous, following in Housekeeper Li's footsteps."
"Alright, then send him," agreed the Madame.
She summoned Li Yan and handed him the letter, giving him detailed instructions.
Li Yan solemnly promised, "Madame, rest assured, I will definitely deliver this letter safely to the Old Duke of Protectorate's hands."
The Madame nodded in confidence, trusting in Li Yan, and dismissed him to set off as soon as possible.
After Li Yan left, the Madame paused in thought, then instructed Madam Wang, "For the next half a month, keep Yuewan confined here in the Residence to properly recover from her injuries. By half a month's time, there should be a response from the Duke Residence. Just in case the Duke Residence keeps their promise and sends someone to discuss the marriage, what would we do if her forehead injury hasn't healed and she needs to meet people? How unsightly that would be."
Madam Wang nodded, "Madame, rest assured, this old servant will ensure that the Seventh Miss is well looked after. If necessary, I will move into that courtyard today."
The Madame liked this idea, "Good, then you move in and stay with her. Thankfully, she still has someone she's afraid of. It used to be Xingze she feared, now it's you; otherwise, she'd turn the world upside down."
Madam Wang chuckled, "Truth be told, it's the Young Master whom Seventh Miss fears. Without him to restrain her, she would hardly fear this old servant."
The Madame's feelings were mixed, "What's the use of fear? Xingze can't watch over her every day."
She sighed, "What a troublemaker!"
Thus, on that very day, both letters were sent out—one to Yunshan Academy, the other to Capital City.
By evening of the same day, Madam Wang moved into Su Rong's courtyard.
Su Rong watched with confusion as she moved her belongings into Yuewan's small house, "Madam Wang, what is this about? Are you coming to visit me?"
"Yes, Seventh Miss, the Madame said that for the coming half a month, I'll watch over you as you recover, and you're not permitted to go anywhere. She even had the workers raise the wall by an extra three feet."
Su Rong's lips twitched, "If they keep making that wall higher, it might just collapse and hit someone one day."
"Don't worry, it won't. We're using the best masons from Jiangning. Even a city wall as tall as this one wouldn't collapse."
Su Rong: "..."
She really wanted to say that she could still climb over even the city wall; her mother was far too naive.
Madam Wang, seeing Su Rong's expression, seemed to realize this too. Her face stiffened slightly, and she spoke helplessly, "What other Madame would be like ours, showing no dignity in front of you? Please don't upset her anymore. If any harm came to her out of distress, how would you explain yourself to the Young Master?"
Su Rong rubbed her shoe soles and murmured, "It's not my fault. Who told Mother to punish me by making me kneel in the ancestral hall, only for Big Brother to stop it? Who told Mother to punish me by copying texts, only for Father to interfere? And when I beat someone up for the first time, who was it that said 'Well done!' because the little bastard deserved it for bullying a little girl?"
Madam Wang: "..."
Yes, it's always someone else's fault.
How could they blame you when you were such an adorable child, small and delicate like a little bun—who could bear to punish you? The Madame was just putting on a show of force. She probably didn't anticipate that with each passing year you'd grow into what you are now, and she must regret it to her core. Even the Lord is late in his regrets. As for the Young Master, it's probably alright since in his eyes, you cannot do wrong.
"Ah, well, if I can't go out, then I can't go out! After all, it's too hot outside right now; it's cooler inside the house anyway," Su Rong quickly accepted the idea of Madam Wang moving in.
Yuewan was delighted, "Madam Wang, it's wonderful that you're moving in! With you overseeing the Miss, she won't sneak out anymore. Every time she leaves me behind, I get so bored I can only talk to Ahua."
Madam Wang grunted, "You and Ahua enjoy the treats the Seventh Miss brings back from outside just the same, both getting fatter."
Yuewan panicked, touching her face and her belly, "I'm not—and certainly not as fat as Ahua, right?"
She was only slightly rounder in the face, maybe just a few pounds heavier than her mistress... right?
Madam Wang had an "I'll let you be the judge" look on her face, and briskly started to make up the bed.
Taken aback by her gaze, Yuewan hurried to a mirror. After a moment, she threw down the mirror and sought out Su Rong, "Miss, am I getting as fat as Ahua?"
Su Rong glanced at her plump face, "Being plump is a sign of good fortune."
"I don't want it," Yuewan shook her head, "Miss, I won't eat the things you buy from outside anymore. You're so mean, fattening me and Ahua up so you can look slender and beautiful by comparison."
Speechless, Su Rong replied, "Would I bother? Does the fish I bring you, which I catch myself, or the roasted chicken and pastries that cost silver, mean nothing to you?"
Yuewan nodded, "That's true too," then tapping her head, she asked a puzzling question, "But if you eat with us, why don't you ever get fat?"
"Because I exercise every day," Su Rong shot back, "Unlike you and Ahua who are terribly lazy. One of you spends the whole day with her nose in a book of paintings, the other lies in the sun all day long, and doesn't even bother to chase mice."
"Forget Ahua, it wouldn't stretch a paw even if a rat were to tug on its whiskers," Yuewan drooped, "Is it too late for me to start exercising?"
"It's not too late. Just eat less and run more," advised Su Rong, as she lay back on the bed, fiddling with her dagger, "Run for a year, and you'll get thin—the kind that gets blown over by the wind."
Yuewan: "..."
She wasn't particularly keen on becoming the type that could be blown over so easily.
"""